Couch for invalids



(No Mddel.)

w. L. LOGSDON. GOUGH FOR INVALIDS.

No. 565,287.- Patented Aug. 4, 1896 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM L. LOGSDON, OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA.

COUCH FOR INVALIDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,287, dated August 4, 1896.

Application filed April 2'7, 1896. Serial No. 589,190. (No model.) i

To all whom it m/cty concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM L. LOGSDON, a citizen of the United States, residing at J effersonville, in the county of Clark and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Couches for Invalids; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to couches for invalids, and has for its object the construction of a portable article of sick-room furniture that may be readily handled and operated by comparatively unskilled nurses, and from which the bed portion can be removed at will and the frame that supports the bed portion folded into a relatively small space. This object I accomplish without using screw bolts or clamps of any kind, and yet afford a strong and rigid frame and couch possessing every convenience when completely set up.

Each constituent element of my invention is described in detail, and its office, together with the mode of operation of the whole,fully explained hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters are used to designate like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 represents a side view of the couch and its pivoted sections, showing also the means for connecting the bed portion of the couch with the frame. Figs. 2 and 3 represent plan views of two forms into which the frame may be folded after the bed portion has been removed; and Fig. at represents a perspective view of the frame, showing the details of its construction.

Considering Fig. 1, the letter A designates the bed portion of the couch. It is usually constructed of two side bars crossed at intervals by slats a, the side bars being without slats near their ends, which project beyond the supporting-frame,to be described hereinbelow. The side bars are arranged parallel to each other. The bed portion of my invention has a pivoted head-section B,provided with pivoted and notched arms I) at the sides. A bar I) is fixed perpendicularly across the side bars upon their lower edges, and the notches in arms I) are adapted to engage the bar I) and support the pivoted headsection B at an elevation above the plane of the bed. At the opposite end there is provided a pivoted foot-section O, which is arranged to be dropped below the level of the bed proper, and removable bars D, supported by suitable hangers d, fixed upon the lower edges of the side bars of A, are employed to hold the pivoted sections as direct extensions of the bed portion. Staples E, of which there are usually six, project from the lower edges of the side bars, and will be again mentioned. Plugs or pins F, of which there are usually six, will be observed as also projecting down wardly from the lower edges of the side bars of bed portion A. Letter G marks each of six hooks, shackled to braces of the support-- ing frame and arranged to engage the staples E, as shown in Fig. 1.

Considering Fig. 4, H designates a rod, and J K L sections of tubing fitting the rod H exteriorly. The lower section of tubing L is bifurcated at its lower end, and a small wheel or roller M rotates upon a pinm, passed across the recess formed in the lower end of tube-section L. One end of rod H is fixed within the tube-section L and projects from the upper end thereof. These two parts may be riveted or screwed together in any cheap and convenient way. Rods H and the tube-sections J KLform the legs or uprights of the supporting-frame of my invention. As ordinarily constructed, there are six of these legs, all precisely alike, and therefore the above description of one of them will answer for all.

N marks each of eight longitudinal braces having eyes at both ends designed to fit the rod H. O designates each of six cross-braces provided with eyes 0 at bothends, and P designates each of four diagonal braces having eyes at both ends, but in the case of brace P the eyes are placed at an angle with the brace itself to allow the brace to occupy its diagonal position.

Figs. 2 and 3 are top plan views of the upper ends of the tube-sections J, showing two shapes into which the frame may be folded after the bed portion has been removed. In either of these forms, it will be understood,

the frame is still capable of being moved about upon the wheels M. It is not necessary to lift the frame.

The parts of my invention may be assembled as follows: Assuming the lower tubesections L, possessing the wheels, to have been fixed to the ends of rods H, three of the lower cross-braces O are caused to connect the six rods in three pairs by passing the rods through the eyes 0, already mentioned. If four of the longitudinal braces N be now caused to join the pairs of legs, (see Fig. 4,) the portion of the frame assumed to be set up will stand without further aid. It may here be stated that the eyes possessed by each brace, whatever its position, are exactly similar to the eyes 0 and all fit somewhat closely about rods H. Let two tube-sections K, being the intermediate tube-sections of each leg, (see Fig. 4,) be now placed upon the pair of rods at the left-hand end of the partly-assembled frame, then two of the diagonal braces P may be caused to engage the rods H of the left end and middle pair of legs. Let the intermediate tube-sections K be now placed upon the rods of the middle pair of legs, then connect the rods of the middle pair of legs with the rods of the right-end pair by diagonal braces P, and place the intermediate tube-sections K upon the rods of the last-mentioned pair of legs. The remaining longitudinal and cross braces may now be caused to engage the rods H, as plainly indicated in Fig. 4:, and the upper tube-sections J placed in position. It will be noticed that the rods II do not occupy the entire length of the bores of tube-sections J, but that a portion of each bore is left vacant. In Fig. 1 it is shown that the plugsF are constructed to occupy the vacant portions of those bores, and the engagement of hooks G and staples E is also presented. As long as the plugs F engage the tube-sections and the hooks and staples are connected the frame is perfectly rigid and may be rolled about at pleasure.

I do not wish to confine myself to any particular construction of bed portion, as there are many common forms of couches equally adapted for use in connection with my invention.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a couch for invalids, a folding frame comprising a plurality of similarlyconstructed legs, each leg consisting of a rod and an upper, intermediate and lower tubular section, the said lower section provided with a wheel or roller in revoluble connection there with, said rod constructed to be passed through the bores of said upper and intermediate tubular sections and to have one end fixed within the bore of said lower tubular section, in con1- bination with lon gitudinal, diagonal and cross braces, said braces having eyes at both ends adapted to receive said rods, each rod being arranged to terminate below the top of the upper tubular section, substantially as de scribed.

2. In a couch for invalids, a folding frame comprising a plurality of similarly constructed legs, each leg consisting of a rod and an upper, intermediate and lower tubular section, the said lower section provided with a wheel or roller in revoluble connection therewith,said rod constructed to be passed through the bores of said upper and intermediate tubular sections and to have one end fixed within the bore of said lower tubular section, in combination with longitudinal, diagonal and cross braces, said braces having eyes at both ends adapted to receive said rods, each rod being arranged to terminate below the top of the upper tubular section, a bed-bottom provided with downwardly-projecting pins adapted to enter the bores of said upper tubular sections, substantially as described.

3. In a couch for invalids, a folding frame comprising a plurality of similarly constructed legs, each leg consisting of a rod and an upper, intermediate and lower tubular section, the said lower section provided with a wheel or roller in revoluble connection therewith, said rod constructed to be passed through the bores of said upper and intermediate tubular sections and to have one end fixed within the bore of said lower tubular section, in combination with longitudinal, diagonal and cross braces, said braces having eyes at both ends adapted to receive said rods, each rod being arranged to terminate below the top of the upper tubular section, a bed-botto1n provided with downwardly-projecting pins adapted to enter the bores of said upper tubular sections, said bed-bottom having staples upon its lower surface, and hooks shackled to braces of said frame and arranged to engage said staples, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM L. LOGSDON. lVitnesses WILLIAM A. SLEEPER, THOMAS DUNBAR. 

